Single Rose’s small size and subtle detail invite close looking. Spiraling petals draw the viewer’s eye around the image to highlight the variation of color and texture between the pink background and the darker hues of the flower. To create this rose-shaped object, Sharon Core used what are purportedly pigs’ ears to mimic petals. While this photograph comprises a single faux bloom, Core’s oeuvre also includes actual flowers in larger still-life compositions.

Typical of her process, Core dedicated time and energy to providing the subject matter for this photograph. From supermarket visits to sculpting her non-traditional material into the perfect rose, she thought through each aspect before picking up her camera. She also had to fight against “wilting” and decomposition to capture her final image.